Piston-ring-applying machine



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May 12, 1925. C. E. JOHNSON PISTON RING APPLYING MACHINE 3 Sh ets -Shet 2 Filed Oct. 27. 1924 Invenror 3 v3 lfl-.\.@.|.I v 1 .n a I g MMJ 7 M v T M e- 3 s nh n 5, w W Wm. m l v m x m mi. m s a, 14 m m m C M m 4 N 2 I II w m w pm; N m 7 E w H P 2 I o n t J G C N 0 m. E m m i m. C w P u 7 r W in TAT Q 4 5 J rflumflllm 2 ITL I 9 IM. H 1 "I: n h M. M A an & MN Q Bk w ?atented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES P AT E N T F FICE CHARLES E. JOHNSON, OF 'MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASEYLGNOR TO THE PISTON RING COMPANY, 0F MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN, A COREO'RATION OF MICHIGAN.

PIST ON-R'ING-APTLYING .MACIIINE.

Application filed 'TOctober 27, 19-24.

1 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. JoHNsoN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at hil uskegon, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piston-Ring-Ap.plyiing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. p

This invention relates to .a machine designed for the purpose of applying piston rings to pistons. Manufacturers of internal combustion engines in quantity, necessarily must apply the piston rings in large numbers to pistons and as the rings are of cast iron the same must be applied with as little distortion of the ring as possible to avoid breakage, and at the same time for quantity production the application must be rapid, this being particularly true in factories where thousands of engines are made and assembled daily. As each engine has at least four pistons and many engines have more the problem of applying the rings to the pistons is a serious one and my invention is directed to a particularly effective machine whereby a number of rings, usually three. applied to each piston may be very quickly and expeditiously applied and this without undue strain to the rings or the liability of breaking any ring because of unusual distortion which, except in applying to pistons, the rings otherwise never have to withstand. To these ends I have devised the machine shown in the accompanying drawings. understanding of which may be had by reference to the following description taken in connection with said drawings in which,

Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal section therethrough.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the complete assembled machine.

I at is a vertical section taken transversely through the front end of the ma- ('i'llllfi.

Figs. 5 and G are side elevations of a detail of construction of the means used for clamping and holding the rings after Serial No. 746,135.

they have been spread sufficiently for the piston to be inserted therethrough, Fig. 5 showing the normal position of the operating means til-11d Fig. 6 the working posit-ion thereof. I

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are fragmentary enlarged partial horizontal sections and plans illustrating the steps of operation gone through with for applying the rings to the piston.

llig. 10 is a vertical section taken on the plane :of line lO--10 of Fig. 11, and

Fig. 1 1 is a fragmentary horizontal section illustrative of the construction used for holding the ring spacing and clamping members in place in the machine.

Like refer-once characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings.

in the construction of the ring applying machine, the main supporting body thereof coi-nprises a ca'stingl, the central portion of which is hollow and extends above each end as indicated at 2. The rear end of the ma,- chine is completed by a cover 3 which is detachably secured to the main body 1 by means of set screws or like fastenings. The

front of the body 1 is of trough like form having upwardly extending sides t at each side with a .scm icylind rical recess or de pression between. The casting is bored lengthwise with a cylindrical bore of the same diameter as the .semicylindrical recess between the sides lat the front end thereof. The machine is adapted to be located above and rest on a suitable work table or bench indicatedat 5 in Fig. 3., and lies horizontally in the position shown.

At the front end in the recess or trough between the sides a, a member 6 is located also substantially of semicylindrical form but having sides 7 which extend a short distance above the upper edges ofthe sides 4. This member is machined to fit the recess between the sides 4 and is secured in place by a set screw 8 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4; and to locate the same, a rib 9 is provided thereon to fit within a suitable groove cut in the front projecting end of the body.

This member 6 extends from the front end of the body nearly to the raised middle portion 2 thereof.

lVithin the enclosed portions of the body. which includes the .iniddle section a cylinder 10 is mounted for reciprocatory move ments. The front end of this cylinder is bored rearwardly for a short distance to make a cylinder recess 11 and the lower portion of the front end of the cylinder 10 is extended a short distance, as indicated at 10, normally coming close to but being spaced from the rear end of the member 6, which, in practice, has its sides 7 reduced somewhat in height as indicated at 7. The cylinder 10 is also bored lengthwise and a rod 12 passes therethrough its axis being coincident with the axis of the cylinder. At its front end rod 12 carries a cylindrical head 13 which fits the bore 11 heretofore described the front end of the head 13 being tapered inwardly to make a frustro-conical extension 14.

A handle lever 15 is pivotally mounted between its end at 16 in a side of the body 1 passing through a slot 17 made through said body and through an elongated slot 18 made in the adjacent side of the cylinder 10. Its inner end fits into a slot cut through the rod 12. By operating this lever, the rod 12 may be moved back and forth so as to project or retract the head 13 with its tapered extension 14. The extent of outward projection of the head is governed by a stop in the form of a screw 19 which is carried by the body casting 1 at one side of the slot 17, the handle 15 striking against the same and limiting its movement in one direction when the head 13 has been projected outwardly a desired distance.

At the rear end of the cylinder 10 a bar 20 is permanently secured by means of screws, as shown in Fig. 1, and thibugh this bar an adjusting screw 21 is passed, the inner end of which comes against the rear end of the rod 12, this serving as a means to limit and control the inward movement of the rod 12 and the head attached thereto. A toggle lever construction is connected with the bar 20. One member 22 of the toggle lever is pivoted at its front end on a rod 23 passing through the bar 20. The rear end of the member 22 is pivotally connected to the front end of the other member 24 of the lever by means of a pivot rod 25. The rear end of the member 24 has pivotal connection with a block 26 by means of a pivot rod 27 passing through said block and the lever. A11 adjusting screw 28 passes through the rear end of the body casting 1 against which the rear side of the block 26 bears, the screw forming an abutment for the toggle lever. Normally the levers at their middle are elevated upwardly by leaf springs 29 which pass under the projecting ends of the pivot rod and rest on the upper sides of the projecting ends of the rods 23 and 27. The upward movement of the lever is limited by a stop made by the web 3 cast integral with and extend ing downwardly from the cover 3 which covers and encloses the toggle lever constructlon.

A vertical rod 30 is connected at its upper end to the knuckle or knee pivot rod 25 of the lever and extends downwardly through an opening in the bottom of the body casting 1 and also through an opening in the table 5. At its lower end it has pivotal connection between the ends of a foot lever 31 which is pivotally connected at one end to a suitable bracket secured to the floor, as shown in Fig. 3. It is obvious that by placing the foot on the free end of the lever 31 so as to force the lever downwardly, the toggle lever is operated with a movement of the cylinder 10in a forward direction, and as soon as the lever is released, springs 29 elevate the toggle lever from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the upper position, shown in either Figs. 1 or 5 thereby retracting the cylinder 10 to its normal position.

The rear reduced end 7 of the member 7 is grooved to make a plurality of equally spaced apart grooves in which ring clampinto a reduced screw threaded opening as shown in Fig. 11; and the members 32 are notched in their edges so that the pins passing through the notches hold said clamping members 32 from outward movement but permit a limited free movement of the same in the grooves in which they are mounted, said grooves being wider than the thickness of the clamping members. These clamping members at their inner edges lie in alignment with the inner cylindrical surface of the member 6, while the extension '7 at the rear end of said member 6 is recessed to make a semicylindrical recess having a greater radius than the radius of the recess in the member '6. This causes the ring clamping members 32 to project inwardly beyond the inner surface of the extension 7 whereby piston rings indicated at 34 may be placedbetween the ring clamping m*embers and held from movement toward each other, being spaced apart by the members 32 as indicated in Fig. 7.

After the rings 34 are placed between the ring clamping members 32, the first operation of the machine is to grasp the lever 15 and move the same so as to project the head 13 and its extension 14 outwardly. This projection is shown in Fig. 8 wherein the headhas passed through the rings 34 and spread the rings as shown. This follows These memes from the smaller end Of the extension 1% first entering the rings and as the head is moved forward the rings are spread until their inner sides coincide with the inner edges of the ring clamping members 32. The operator then steps upon the foot lever 31 whereupon the cylinder is moved forward into the position shown in Fig. 9, engaging against the side of the rearmost ring 3% and thereby forcing all of the rings and clamping members tightly together. This is permitted by reason of the fact that the rear ring 34, shown in Fig. 9, extends over the rear end oi the part 7. The operator holds the lever 31 in downward position thereby holding all of the rings and ring clamping members in secure clamped position and with the rings spread. Lever is then operated to retract head 13. The cylinder having ring receiving grooves 36 is then placed in the member 6, which serves as holder and guide therefor. The rings Fl-l are clamped in spread position so that the cylinder may be moved rearwardly and into the rings and the grooves 36 located in proper position to receive the rings. The operator then releases the foot lever 31 and the rings 34 contract to normal shape fitting in the grooves 36 in the piston.

Vith this construction, the application of piston rings to a piston is very quickly and easily performed. The rings are not spread to any extent beyond that barely sutlicient to pass the piston through the same. This insures that the rings will not be distorted unduly or in fact any beyond the minimum of spreading which they must be spread in order to be applied to the piston. Any ring that breaks under such conditions is a defective ring in any case. But there will be no breakage of rings because of undue and needless spreading and distortion with this machine. The rings are easily dropped into the grooves between the ring clamping mem bers 32 and in ordinary practice the gaps in the rings will all be together, though this is not material or important. Pistons all or" the same sizes can be equipped with rings very rapidly as is evident. The machine is particularly practical and effective and has so proved. in service. The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered as con'iprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, means for holding a plurality of piston rings in spaced apart relation, means for spreading said rings, and means for acting on said holding means to clamp the rings in their spread position whereby the grooved end of a piston may be inserted through the spread rings, substantially as described.

In a device of the character described,

holding and clamping means whereby phi rality of piston rings may be held'in spaced apart relation, manually operable means adapted to pass through the rings and spread the same, additional means movable to clamp said rings between said clam-ping and holding means against retraction whereby the spreading means may be withdrawn and the rings maintain their spread position, substantially as described.

In a device of the character described, support, a plurality of spaced apart ring holding and clamping means carried by the support and mounted for a limited movement toward or away from each other, be-- tween which holding and clamping means a plurality of piston rings may be loosely received, means for spreading all of the rings and means adapted to engage against one of the rings and thereby press and'clamp all of the rings and said holding and clamping means together to hold the rings spread after said spreading means has acted to spread. the rings and been removed therefrom, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, an elongated support, a trough like member mounted at one end of the support and at its inner end formed with a plurality of spaced apart grooves, substantially semicircular ring holding and clamping members seated in said grooves the grooves being wider than the thickness of said members, said ring holding and clamping members extending inwardly from the sides of the support and thereby forn'iing ring receiving grooves into each of which a piston ring may be placed, means movable through the rings to spread the same and additional means independently movable against one of the rings to thereby clamp all of the rings and said ring holding and clamping members together to hold the rings spread after the ring spreading means has been moved away from the rings, substantially as described.

5. 'In a device of the character described, an elongated support, means located adjacent one end of the support for loosely receiving and holding a plurality of piston rings in spaced apart relation, ahead having a tapered extension movably mounted and manually operable to pass through the rings to spread the same, a cylinder independently mounted for n'lovement and adapted to be brought against one of the rings with pressure to thereby clamp all of the rings and said ring holding means securely together, and to hold the rings spread after said ring spreading head has been moved away from the rings, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, an elongated support, means for loosely receiving and holding a plurality of piston rings in spaced apart relation located adacent one end of the support, said means comprising a plurality of members having limited movement toward or away from each other, a cylinder mounted in the support, means for moving said cylinder toward the rings and said members whereby the rings and said members may be securely clamped together, a rod having a spreader head at one end thereof slidably mounted in and extending through the cylinder, and means for manually operating said head independently of the operation of the cylinder whereby the head may be moved to spread the rings,

the cylinder moved to clamp and hold the rings in spread position, and the head removed after the rings are thus clamped, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described, an elongated support, a cylinder movably mounted for limited longitudinal movement between the ends of the support, a rod slidably mounted in and extending through the cylinder, a head having a tapered outer extension attached to one end of the rod, a lever pivotally mounted on the support, extending through the cylinder and connecting with the rod for manually moving the rod and attached head back and forth, a toggle lever connected with the rear end of the cylinder, a rod connected to and depending from the knuckle of the toggle lever, a foot lever connected to the lower end of the rod, and piston ring holding and clamping means located in front of the head and in front of the adjacent end of the cylinder, said means comprising a plurality of spaced apart me1nbers mounted for a limited movement toward or away from each other, substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. In a device of the character described, an elongated support, a member mounted for longitudinal movement substantially at the middle of the support, a rod having a spreader head at one end slidably mounted through the said member, means for separately and independently moving said rod with its attached head and said member toward the front of the support, a troughlike member connected to the support in front of the spreader head, a plurality of spaced apart substantially semi-circular ring holding and clamping members carried at the rear end of the said trough-like member and mounted thereon for limited movement toward and away from each other, said members being adapted to receive and hold a plurality of piston rings between them and the said first member in spaced apart relation to each other, substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. In a construction of the class described, means for receiving and holding a plurality of piston rings in spaced'apart relation, means for spreading the rings, means I01 clamping said rings and the holding means therefor together after the rings have been spread, whereby the ring spreading means may be removed to an inoperative position, and a guide for a grooved piston located in alignment with the ring holding means whereby the piston may be moved longitudinally through the spread rings, substantially as described.-

10. In a device of the character described, a trough-like member adapted to hold and guide a piston, a plurality of spaced apart ring holding and clamping members mounted at one end of the guide member and mounted for a limited movement toward and away from each other, between which a plurality of piston rings may be loosely received, means for spreading the rings, means for clamping the rings and said ring holding and clamping members firmly together after the same have been spread, whereby the ring spreading means may be moved to inoperative position with the rings held in spread position and the piston in said trough-like member moved longitudinally through the rings, substantially as described.

11. In a device of the class described, means for loosely receiving and holding a. plurality of piston rings in spaced apart relation, means for spreading said rings, and means for clamping the rings in their spread position whereby a piston may be inserted through said rings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ai'lix my signature.

CHARLES E. JOHNSON. 

